Yoga: which types it suits

Yoga is a practice of moving through a series of poses on a mat, timed with the breath. Styles range from slow classes that hold each pose for a long time to flowing ones that link movements together, and most sessions end with a few minutes lying still. You simply follow the teacher, so a first-timer can join in from the back row at their own pace. All you need is a mat and comfortable clothes, which is why plenty of people also practise at home or in the park.

Yoga suits people who want an hour of moving without competing with anyone. Nobody cares what the person on the next mat is doing, which is why evening classes are popular with people who've spent all day fitting around others. Those who stay with it tend to have a sensitive streak: they notice that the same pose feels different from yesterday, and find that difference interesting rather than frustrating.